Course Syllabus: Digital Photography with the iPhone

Course Description

Having a good
phone right in your pocket doesn't make you a photographer anymore than having
a cat makes you a zookeeper. The iPhone has one of the best smartphone cameras
on the market with a bright lens and a wide range of photo apps--but a great
camera doesn't guarantee great photos every time.

While the
iPhone is one of the most widely used cameras, getting the best results takes a
bit of practice, patience and the right techniques. Simply pulling your phone
out of your pocket for a quick snapshot isn't going to stand out from among the
millions of other photos taken with the iPhone every day.

It doesn't
matter if you simply want to take better pictures of your kids or if you want
to use the iPhone camera professionally--if you want to take better pictures
with the iPhone, this class is for you. Over the course of 15 lessons, we'll
discuss how to take pictures with the iPhone, how to troubleshoot the most
common issues, and the best photo apps available.

But simply learning
how to operate a camera doesn't make you a photographer--besides learning how to
use the iPhone camera and apps, you'll learn techniques that can be used to
create amazing images no matter what device you use. You'll learn the art of
composition, how to find great lighting, advanced techniques like long exposure
and more.

Ready to take
great photos with the camera that's inside your pocket? Good, now let's get
snapping.

Course Requirements

This course will not require you to have previous experience in any particular area but you should have a high school reading level. No books will be required.

Course Topics

Digital Photography With the iPhone

1.Introduction to iPhone Photography

1.Why the iPhone? (Advantages)

2.Understanding the iPhone's shortcomings and how to overcome them

3.Accessing the camera (including two shortcuts)

4.iPhone versions

1.Hardware vs. software

2.Key overview of updates on last three models

2.Controlling the iPhone camera

1.Screen overview

2.Touch controls

3.Physical controls

4.Camera settings

3.Exposure

1.Adjusting the exposure compensation

2.What is shutter speed?

3.What is ISO?

4.Aperture and the iPhone's f2.8 lens

5.Using manual modes

4.Composition

1.Compositional rules

2.How to turn the composition grid on and off

3.Aspect ratios

4.Lines and patterns

5.Focus

1.How to focus the iPhone

2.Locking focus

3.Focus troubleshooting

6.Light

1.Hard vs. soft light

2.Light direction

3.Shooting in sunlight

4.Locating great light

5.Using the flash

7.HDR

1.What is HDR?

2.When to use HDR

3.When to avoid HDR

4.Manual HDR

8.Panoramas

1.How to shoot a panorama on the iPhone

2.Tips for getting the best panoramas

3.Troubleshooting perspective errors

4.Getting creative with the panorama mode

9.Time Lapse

1.What is a time lapse?

2.Identifying great time lapse subjects

3.Troubleshooting focus, exposure, etc. for time lapse

10.Video

1.iPhone video controls

2.Composition

3.Focus and exposure

4.Slow-Mo videos

5.Editing videos

11.Advanced iPhone Photography by Genre

1.Taking great portraits

2.Taking pictures of kids

3.Taking great landscapes

4.Taking great action

12.Troubleshooting tricky shots

1.Low light photography

2.Lens flare

3.Shooting in harsh sunlight

4.Moving subjects

13.iPhone accessories

1.Lenses

2.Flash

3.Tripod

14.Editing

1.Using the built-in editing features

1.Cropping and straightening

2.Adjusting brightness, color and black and white

3.Filters

2.Best editing apps

1.Photoshop Express

2.Fotor

15.Managing Photos & Videos

1.How to view your photos

2.Organizing photos with albums

3.Using iCloud

4.Sharing photos and videos

Course Materials

All course material will be provided in the lessons and netlinks. There are no required materials to purchase before taking the class.

Grading Policy

Each lesson will include a lesson review quiz. An assignment will be included in several of the lessons. Students will successfully complete this course with an overall average of 70% or higher.